(T.D. Polo-Sanchez' letters to his brother in America -
pasteurized somewhat for Magic City Readers.)
My Foreign Affairs Officer came to me and told me that he heard that I was drunk recently. I reminded him that yes I was drunk because he was the one that invited me to dinner and the both of us became drunk. He remembered, and then it was o.k. Wow, sticking out like a sore thumb.
In my classes I estimate that 1/3 do not care, 1/3 do care, 1/3 care from class to class, and the last 1/3 are thinking of their next meal. I did do my math right; in China thirds come in quarters. I can't explain it, but it is this way. I came up with a motto for China: "Order in Disorder." China is like the Big Band theory. Everything looks like chaos, but it works itself out in the end.
Some people are already calling the 21st century China's century. Heaven help us. A friend of mine e-mailed me that if China surpassed the West, who will they steal their technology from?
These classes frustrate me so much. Yet, when I enter a class students start applauding or they actually go look for me around campus to make sure that I go to their class. Then they fall asleep on me. I have all the class categories- some classes are crap, some are so-so, some are really good.
I also have some classes that are just plain strange. In the strange ones the students do their work, but a few students are running a snack shop, the girls are running a salon - but they are actually talking English while they do that. I have contemplated just leaving, but this would make me lose "face" and the next time I go they would misbehave more to drive me away. So I try to put my size 10 shoe up their rears whenever I catch them red handed.
What makes me really laugh is when some yawn out loud and I do not know who it is. I remind myself that I am a Vulcan from Star Trek. I will not show any emotion in class, or these guys will prey on me like Winnie the Pooh smelling a jar of honey.
Recently I ran a debate to compare school in America and China - yawn time. A few minutes later I had them debate who was better- Kobe or Lebron. The NBA is so huge here. I could not get them to shut-up after that. In English, during the next lesson, they were still debating dunks, free throws, you name it.
I must admit that I went to one class unprepared. I know, mortal sin. One class gave me a Christmas card. Then it hit me, in this class we will draw X-Mas cards and in English we will share what we drew. Inspiration happens at the strangest times.
After class some kid put his hand around my shoulder and asked me what I was doing for X-Mas. He would not do that with a Chinese teacher. I guess I have to walk a fine line between being too hard or being to lenient. The nature of the class being for them to converse, if I am too hard they won't say a word and if let them have they go and have a party.
T. D. Polo-Sanchez
Assembled in the United States from parts made in Mexico and exported to China, T.D. Polo-Sanchez has taken a year of absence from his post at an American high school to teach Oral English in China.
He hopes that you enjoy his posts and remember that he writes with a deep love and affinity to the Chinese people. In this world while we laugh at others and at ourselves, we laugh together. T.D. Polo-Sanchez Email: eslinstructor33@yahoo.com
